Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFYTYO’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFYTYO’, particularly characterized by having small, white flowers with a slightly red-purple center and unique red-purple lip, 1 to 3 peduncles that are short and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFYTYO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALFYTYO’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new short Phalaenopsis plant with attractive and small white flowers with a slightly red-purple center and unique red-purple lip, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFYTYO’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in August 2008 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘01-1789’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘PHALDOMEO’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,682).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in August 2011. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 25, 2017. ‘PHALFYTYO’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALFYTYO’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant.

-   -   1) Small, white flowers with a slightly red-purple center and         unique red-purple lip;     -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;     -   3) Peduncle is short and sturdy; and     -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week old plants in November 2017. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage of ‘PHALFYTYO’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFYTYO’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALFYTYO’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALFYTYO’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in November 2017 on flowering plants which were planted in 9 centimeter (diameter) pots. After in-vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for 18-20 weeks, followed by transplantation to 9 centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 25 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 6 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 11 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 42-weeks in a 9 centimeter pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALFYTYO’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1789’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘PHALDOMEO’ (U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 25,682). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots (RHS 190B/C)             with branching lateral roots having red-purple colored root             tips (RHS N79B/C). -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual             propagation (in-vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 18-20             weeks. After transplantation in 9 cm pots, the plants are             finished after 40 to 42 weeks.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to             panicle.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 20.0 cm to 25.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 27.0 cm to 29.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Strong. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 9 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 14.0 cm             to 16.0 cm. Width: 6.0 cm to 7.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base             shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Acute unequal. Leaf blade             angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal             position): Between 20 degrees and 35 degrees. Leaf margin:             Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 144A/146A. Lower surface:             RHS 146B. Variegation: Absent. Texture (upper surface):             Rough. Thickness: 2.4 mm to 2.6 mm. Venation: Pattern:             Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS 146A.             Lower surface: RHS 146B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—14 to 20.         -   Length.—20.0 cm to 25.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—3.8 mm to 4.3 mm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Mix of brown (RHS 200B/C) with a touch of light green             (RHS 195B).         -   Internode length.—2.5 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Callosities.—None. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 100.0 mm to             130.0 mm.         -   Number of inflorescences of the plant.—There are 2             inflorescences present. One is panicle (branched, and this             branch is raceme) and the other is raceme.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 7 to 8 months             after planting in a 9 cm (diameter) pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 34.0 mm to 36.0 mm. Diameter: 38.0 mm to             40.0 mm. Depth of lip: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 8 to 12 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium. Length: 14.0 mm to             16.0 mm. Width: 10.0 mm to 14.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped.             Color: Light green (RHS 145C/D) at the base and diluting             light red-purple (RHS N78D).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Obtuse asymmetric. Margin: Slightly undulated. Position of             broadest part: Towards base. Length (from base to tip): 15.0             mm to 17.0 mm. Width: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Light pink-purple (RHS N78C) at the base. Lower             surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Light             red-purple at the base and stripe in the middle (RHS N78D).         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Slightly emarginated             symmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 18.0             mm to 20.0 mm. Width: 12.0 mm to 14.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS             NN155C). Over color: Light purple (RHS 76B).         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 20.0 mm to             22.0 mm. Width: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Few red-purple stripes (RHS N78B) at the base.             Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color:             Light purple (RHS 76B).         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 1.0             mm to 2.0 mm. Color of whiskers: White (RHS NN155C).             Pubescence on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type IV (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); weakly             spatulate. Margin: Entire. Length: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm.             Width: 6.0 mm to 8.0 mm. Color: Yellow (RHS 3A) at the base             with few red-purple (RHS 71A) stripes and spots; red-purple             (RHS N78A) toward the margin.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Circular. Margin: Entire. Length: 13.0             mm to 15.0 mm. Width: 14.0 mm to 16.0 mm. Color: Red-purple             (RHS 71A) at the base; red-purple (RHS N78A) and white (RHS             NN155C) toward the whiskers.         -   Callus.—Average size: Small. Height: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm.             Length: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Width: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Color:             Yellow (RHS 9B), dotted (RHS 60A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 4.2 mm to             4.4 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.7 mm to 0.8 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS 25A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 1.8 mm to 2.0 mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm. Diameter: 2.1 mm to             2.3 mm. Color: Diluting dark red (RHS 187B) and light green             (RHS 195B) at the base; white (RHS N155B) toward the flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis to date. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

The female parent of ‘PHALFYTYO’, cultivar ‘01-1789’ (unpatented), is no longer in existence, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALFYTYO’ differs from male parent plant ‘PHALDOMEO’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,682) in that ‘PHALFYTYO’ has white flowers, a white column and a slightly emarginated dorsal sepal apex, whereas ‘PHALDOMEO’ has purple flowers, a purple column and an obtuse dorsal sepal apex.

‘PHALFYTYO’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALCRYL’ (unpatented) and ‘PHALELENO’ (unpatented). ‘PHALFYTYO’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALCRYL’ in that ‘PHALFYTYO’ has a weakly spatulate lateral lobe shape, whereas ‘PHALCRYL’ has a spatulate lateral lobe shape. Additionally, ‘PHALFYTYO’ has smaller flowers and a shorter plant length (excluding pot) than ‘PHALCRYL’.

‘PHALFYTYO’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALELENO’ in that ‘PHALFYTYO’ has a weakly spatulate lateral lobe shape, whereas ‘PHALELENO’ has a spatulate lateral lobe shape. Additionally, ‘PHALFYTYO’ has smaller flowers and a shorter plant length (excluding pot) than ‘PHALELENO’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFYTYO’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 